3 Psychological Reasons Why Change is So Hard for Leaders
Change is hard: it means heading into the unknown, challenging long-held beliefs, and facing resistance. But leaders can pave the way through continuous learning and growth.
14 September 2023
As leaders, we all know that change is necessary for growth and improvement. However, despite recognising its importance, change is often hard to achieve. In this article, we will explore three psychological reasons why change can be so hard for leaders, and how SYCOL can help overcome these barriers.
- Fear of the unknown:
A primary barrier is that change requires venturing into the unknown. This fear can create anxiety, uncertainty and resistance. Leaders must build a culture of trust and psychological safety, where people feel supported in taking risks. - Cognitive dissonance:
The discomfort arising when faced with information challenging existing beliefs or values. Leaders may resist change because it questions long-held assumptions or the status quo. A SYCOL Improvement Programme will embrace this dissonance as an opportunity for reflection and growth. - Inertia:
The tendency to stick to the way things have always been done, even when no longer working. Leaders can struggle with change because current approaches seem good enough. SYCOL will emphasise continuous learning and a mindset of experimentation to overcome inertia.
By partnering with a SYCOL Improvement Programme, leaders across sectors can surmount these barriers to foster continuous improvement. We help you achieve this by focusing on building a shared vision, inquisitiveness, ongoing learning, organisational learning, and effective leadership.
We’ve worked with leaders in many sectors and understand exactly what it takes to succeed. If you’re in charge and you’d like some support, let’s chat.
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